Title: Charm City Cop: The Life and Times of Steve Tabeling
Author: John F. Reintzell
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1532056505
Pages: 238
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza
Pacific Book Review
One of the more difficult subjects to broach in our day and age is that of law enforcement. Sadly, a lot of injustices to many different communities in the United States and beyond have hampered the communities trust in law enforcement. Finding those officers who truly uphold the law and treat citizens with respect are needed now more than ever, and as Kamala Harris said, “Over the course of my career in law enforcement, I have witnessed over and over again the selflessness and sacrifice of law enforcement who lay their lives on the line every day to protect people who they will never meet and people who will never know their names.”
In author John F. Reintzell’s Charm City Cop: The Life and Times of Steve Tabeling, the author presents to readers a memoir regarding a long-term career officer, Steve Tabeling. From the man’s early years as a child struggling with undiagnosed anxiety and living in a home facing poverty and a father who wasn’t understanding, to his later years making a family for himself and moving into a career in law enforcement, this book really channels the essence of Steve Tabeling and gives readers insight into one of the officers who represented what law enforcement should be.
This is a much needed, quick and engaging memoir. The author perfectly brings Steve Tabeling to life for a new group of readers who most likely never have met the man before. The way the author writes gives a sense of understanding and complexity to the memoir’s subject, and the man himself Steve Tabeling proves to be a mild-mannered, easy-going and compassionate officer and teacher; something many people would like to see from other officers in the world today.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy memoirs, more specifically biographies which deal with those involved in law enforcement and discovering the circumstances that brought them into that line of work. As a fan of memoirs, it is always fascinating to discover what makes a person who they are, and seeing officer Tabeling’s metamorphosis into a career officer and teacher was amazing to see unfold, especially given his later years teaching homicide detectives the skills to help bring criminals to justice, something the author personally identified with.
Engaging, memorable and evenly paced, author John F. Reintzell’s Charm City Cop: The Life and Times of Steve Tabeling is a must-read memoir for those looking for a good example of true and inspiring law enforcement. The journey Officer Tabeling took from his days trying to escape school as a child to building a family, finding a long career in law enforcement, and finally finding his way back into school as a teacher, was truly memorable and a joy to read. If you enjoy a good memoir and are looking to identify with someone who overcame their anxiety and found their path in life, be sure to grab your copy of The Life and Times of Steve Tabeling.
